# running

/ˈɹənɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹˈʌnɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/running
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. exercise or sport

noun · CEFR A2

the activity or sport of moving fast on foot.

For teachers: the physical activity or competitive sport of rapid locomotion on foot.

- She goes running every morning before she has breakfast.
- Long-distance running requires not only physical endurance but also significant mental discipline to maintain a consistent pace over several hours.

### 2. management or operation

noun · CEFR B2

the way a business, system, or machine is managed and kept working.

For teachers: the management, administration, or functional operation of an organisation or system.

- He is responsible for the day-to-day running of the office.
- The smooth running of the international conference depended on the seamless coordination between the technical staff and the local organisers.

### 3. continuous or ongoing

adjective · CEFR B1

continuing for a long time or happening regularly.

For teachers: continuous, ongoing, or maintained over a period of time without interruption.

- They have a running joke about who is the worst cook in the family.
- The documentary provides a running commentary on the political changes occurring throughout the decade.

### 4. flowing liquid

adjective · CEFR A2

water or liquid that is moving or flowing from a tap.

For teachers: referring to water supplied through pipes and taps, or liquid in a state of flow.

- The campsite has no running water, so we have to bring our own.
- The sound of running water from the nearby stream provided a peaceful backdrop to their afternoon picnic.

### 5. medical discharge

adjective · CEFR B2

liquid coming out of a part of your body, like your nose or a sore.

For teachers: discharging pus, mucus, or other fluids, typically due to infection or irritation.

- He has a running nose because of his hay fever.
- The doctor examined the running sore to determine if the infection had spread to the surrounding tissue.

### 6. consecutively

adverb · CEFR B2 · Informal

happening one after another without a break.

For teachers: occurring in a continuous sequence; consecutively.

- Our team has won four games running.
- The company reported record profits for the third year running, exceeding even the most optimistic forecasts from market analysts.

## Examples

- Running is my favorite way to stay healthy.
- She started running every morning to prepare for the local charity race next month.
- While some athletes prefer the social aspect of team sports, others find that running offers a unique form of meditative solitude that helps clear the mind.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.